Data Shows Vegan Products Are Going Mainstream

We all know veganism has made major inroads into popular culture in the last several years, but the actual changes can be hard to measure. Other than the wealth of anecdotal evidence—like your stubborn great Uncle Herb eating veggie burgers or Walmart (gasp!) stocking plant-based products—how do we know if things have really changed?

Eric Pierce, director of strategy and insights at New Hope Natural Media (the folks behind Natural Products Expo West), said 36% of U.S. consumers use milk and meat alternatives, and 26% say they ate less meat in the last 12 months (although other research suggests that number may be even higher).

While only approximately 6% of the U.S. population identifies as vegan, the market for vegan products is clearly much larger, with consumers opting into plant-based products on a large scale. The data shows vegan products are going mainstream, which is good news for animals, people and the planet, alike.

A wizard of words, lover of all living things and vegan mac ‘n cheese master, Hannah is the Editor-In-Chief and Founder of LatestVeganNews.com. Her writing has appeared in Live Happy magazine, the Miami New Times, OneGreenPlanet.com, MindBodyGreen.com, and numerous other publications and websites. She’s obsessed with Cocowhip, Just Mayo and Dandies marshmallows, and is totally addicted to the outdoors. You can reach Hannah directly at hannah.sentenac@gmail.com.